For more than 15 years, Christy Phanthavong has been providing employment counseling and employment litigation defense to management clients. Her counseling areas of expertise cover all aspects of Family and Medical Leave Act administration, including providing advice on managing intermittent leaves, responding to suspected fraud, and ensuring compliance with regulations, as well as managing the Americans with Disabilities Act disability accommodation process. She also advises clients regarding employee relations matters (including hiring, discipline and termination), conducts employment law training, drafts employee handbooks, and prepares employment and separation agreements.

Ms. Phanthavong is an experienced litigator before state and federal courts and administrative agencies. She has been involved in the defense of management in single and multiple-plaintiff actions involving federal and state statutory discrimination, retaliation and wage and hour claims, including claims under Title VII, ADA, FMLA, ADEA, FLSA, ERISA, and the IHRA. She also has represented employers in class and collective actions under the ADEA and federal and state wage and hour statutes, as well as with respect to state law retaliatory discharge, breach of contract and tort claims.

Ms. Phanthavong has briefed and argued cases before the United States Courts of Appeals for the Fourth and Seventh Circuits and the Michigan Court of Appeals, and has handled both federal and state jury trials.

Good to know

Areas of Practice

1) Labor & Employment and 2) Commercial Litigation

Law School

University of Illinois, College of Law, J.D., 1999

Admitted Year

2002

Education

Wheaton College, B.A., 1995

Bar Member / Association

Illinois State Bar Association

Most recent firm

Bryan Cave LLP

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